Environmental impact

Greenhouse gas emissions

Companies are expected to manage their greenhouse gas emissions so that they can deliver their core services in a low carbon way and to play their part in reducing national greenhouse gas emissions where it is economic to do so and in customers’ interest.

All operations can result in emissions, including:

operational use of assets

vehicle movements

pumping of water around the network

The size of a company can have a big influence on operational emissions of a company, for example a large company operates more assets and pumps more water than a smaller company. Topography and weather conditions can also impact annual operation emissions.

In addition to operating emissions there are those associated with materials, manufactured products and processes involved in the construction and disposal of an asset (embedded emissions). While this indicator does not capture these, they are also an important consideration for companies.

Green means the company’s performance is in line with or better than expected
Amber means the company’s performance is not in line with expectations but performance has slipped only slightly
Red means the company’s performance is significantly below target or expectation

Pollution

The water and the sewerage sectors can have a significant impact on the environment. For example, poorly maintained sewers can lead to the discharge of raw sewage into a river. The water and sewerage companies have a number of duties for example, to maintain sewers and lateral drains so as to effectually drain its area, and to deal effectually with the contents of sewers.

The Environment Agency are the regulatory body responsible for monitoring pollution. We worked with them to develop four key indicators. We do not take regulatory action against these indicators.

Green means the company’s performance is in line with or better than expected
Amber the company’s performance is not in line with expectations but performance has slipped only slightly
Red means the company’s performance is significantly below target or expectation

Green means the company’s performance is in line with or better than expected
Amber means the company’s performance is not in line with expectations but performance has slipped only slightly
Red means the company’s performance is significantly below target or expectation

Green means the company’s performance is in line with or better than expected
Green star means the company had no water pollution incidents and the company’s performance is in line with or better than expected
Amber means the company’s performance is not in line with expectations but performance has slipped only slightly
Red means the company’s performance is significantly below target or expectation
Affinity Water (central) did not record a red, amber or green status for this indicator

Green means the company’s performance is in line with or better than expected
Amber means the company’s performance is not in line with expectations but performance has slipped only slightly
Red means the company’s performance is significantly below target or expectation

Sludge

This indicator measures how well water and sewerage companies have met the requirements for satisfactory sludge disposal as set out in regulations and codes of practice such as the safe sludge matrix and nitrate vulnerable zone restrictions. For example water and sewerage companies have a responsibility to treat sludge to a suitable standard before it can be applied to agricultural land. Because of the varied requirements and disposal routes, the definition of satisfactory disposal may be different for each company.

In the graph below, 100% means that all sludge disposed of during the year was in line with the company’s processes for satisfactory disposal.

Green means the company’s performance is in line with or better than expected
Amber means the company’s performance is not in line with expectations but performance has slipped only slightly
Red means the company’s performance is significantly below target or expectation

Data

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions

Pollution incidents sewerage

Serious pollution incidents sewerage

Pollution incidents (water)

Discharge permit compliance

Satisfactory sludge disposal

Anglian

481

11.6

2.0

0.8

97%

100%

Dŵr Cymru

252

13.2

2.2

1.1

96%

100%

Northumbrian

220

5.9

6.9

0.0

99%

100%

Severn Trent

522

8.1

2.5

2.8

97%

99%

South West

153

15.9

17.4

0.7

92%

100%

Southern

268

21.8

9.6

2.2

96%

100%

Thames

741

3.8

2.9

3.2

100%

100%

United Utilities

522

7.0

0.7

1.9

99%

99%

Wessex

149

3.6

1.1

5.2

100%

100%

Yorkshire

394

9.5

4.3

6.5

97%

100%

Affinity Water* (central)

116

—

—

10

—

—

Affinity Water* (east)

3

—

—

0.0

—

—

Affinity Water* (southeast)

6

—

—

0.0

—

—

Bristol

47

—

—

1.5

—

—

Cambridge

7

—

—

0.0

—

—

Dee Valley

10

—

—

0.0

—

—

Portsmouth

13

—

—

0.0

100%

—

Sembcorp Bournemouth

17

—

—

3.6

—

—

South East

83

—

—

4.2

—

—

South Staffs

62

—

—

0.0

—

—

Sutton & East Surrey

31

—

—

2.9

—

—

Green means the company’s performance is in line with or better than expected
Amber means the company’s performance is not in line with expectations but performance has slipped only slightly
Red means the company’s performance is significantly below target or expectation
Blue means companies did not have to submit this data

*Formerly Veolia Water Central, Veolia Water East and Veolia Water Southeast.